UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Sanctions and Arms Embargo on Israel Over Gaza Genocide

A UN report by Francesca Albanese has called for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, alleging that the country is committing genocide in Gaza. The report, titled "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide," details the involvement of international corporations in supplying Israel with weapons and equipment used to raze Palestinian neighborhoods. Albanese, an Italian legal scholar, has been the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 2022.

The report highlights the role of companies such as Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and Volvo in supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza. Lockheed Martin has supplied Israel with F-35 fighter jets, while Palantir has provided software to assist the Israeli military. Volvo has allegedly supplied heavy machinery used in mass demolitions of homes and infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank.

Albanese has argued that the evidence of genocide is overwhelming, and that the international community has a responsibility to hold corporations accountable for their involvement. She has called for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, as well as for the international criminal court to investigate and prosecute corporate executives for their part in the commission of international crimes.

The report also notes that international finance has helped keep the war going by buying Israeli treasury bonds. Companies such as BNP Paribas, Barclays, and Vanguard have invested in these bonds, allowing Israel to contain its interest rate premium.

Key Takeaways:

• The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories has called for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, alleging that the country is committing genocide in Gaza.
• The report details the involvement of international corporations in supplying Israel with weapons and equipment used to raze Palestinian neighborhoods.
• Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and Volvo have been named in the report for their role in supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza.
• Albanese has argued that the evidence of genocide is overwhelming and that the international community has a responsibility to hold corporations accountable for their involvement.
• The report calls for the international criminal court to investigate and prosecute corporate executives for their part in the commission of international crimes.
• International finance has helped keep the war going by buying Israeli treasury bonds, with companies such as BNP Paribas, Barclays, and Vanguard involved.
• The report notes that precedents exist for holding corporations legally accountable for human rights abuses, including the IG Farben trial and the South African truth and reconciliation commission.

Statistics:

• 56,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's campaign in Gaza (Gaza health ministry)
• 60,000 people were nearly killed by Israel (Albanese)
• 80% of homes were destroyed in Gaza (Albanese)
• 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas attack in October 2023 (triggers Israel's campaign in Gaza)
• 630 days of investigation by Albanese
• 18,000lb of bombs carried by the F-35 fighter jet (Lockheed Martin)
• 1,600 manufacturers involved in the F-35 production (Lockheed Martin)
• 8 states involved in the F-35 production (Lockheed Martin)
• 32% increase in GPFG's investment in Israeli companies since October 2023

Sources:

• Albanese's report "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide"
• Guardian article "UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese: 'Israel's genocide in Gaza is a business model'"
• UN Human Rights Council website
• Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website